Abe cites need for Japan to fully exercise right to collective self-defense

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested Tuesday that the Constitution should be amended to give Japan the power to fully exercise the right to collective self-defense.

Referring to a proposed revised constitution presented by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in April 2012, Abe said that draft was based on the view that Japan “can exercise the right, as guaranteed by international law, to firmly safeguard the lives of the Japanese people.”

Abe was responding to a question by a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker in a Diet session regarding whether he thinks the government should enable the Self-Defense Forces to exercise every right to self-defense, including collectively and individually.

Last September, Abe’s ruling coalition pushed controversial bills through the Diet that effectuate a Cabinet decision in July 2014 to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense under strict conditions, such as Japan’s survival coming under threat.

Before the legislation, previous governments maintained a self-imposed ban on collective self-defense. Under the new laws, the SDF can now defend the United States or other friendly nations under armed attack when Japan faces “a situation that threatens its survival.”

The legislation limits Japan’s exercising of the right to collective self-defense to cases such as contingencies on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea poses a threat to the region with its missile and nuclear weapons development, and in the East China Sea where Japan is embroiled in a dispute with Beijing over the Senkaku Islands.

Abe has called for increased public debate about amending the Constitution, saying it will be an important issue in this summer’s Upper House election.

He wants to revise the second paragraph of war-renouncing Article 9, saying there is a contradiction between the existence of the SDF and the ban on Japan maintaining armed forces.

The second paragraph of the article says, “Land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.”

The Constitution has not been altered since its promulgation in November 1946.

Has Abe looked at census data? A much more pressing issue than amending the constitution and flexing muscles will be whether Japan can produce or procure enough adult nappies for the rapidly aging population. Elderly people have been cast off of buildings to their deaths here as qualified, mentally stable care providers remain in short supply. Yet Abe huffs and puffs about the constitution.

‘Invading’…technically no I guess, but they certainly are constructing artificial islands/military installations in international waters in order to simply steal and control massive amounts of territory that is definitely not theirs. So invading is actually not too far off the reality.

When trying to understand China’s ambitions and or intentions do not listen to what they say, but rather look at what they do. Ignoring the obvious signs they have clearly been giving over the past 3 years I particular is irresponsible and very dangerous.

tisho

Similarly when trying to understand China’s ambitious and/or intentions, do not listen to what the US says, instead look at what they did. China is a rising superpower, and like all superpowers they want to have influence, they want to have their own Monroe doctrine, so similarly to the US foreign policies of the 20th century, China is trying to create their own Monroe doctrine and project their power. Weather or not the way they are trying to achieve this is the correct way or not is another question, i would argue there is no correct way, it all depends on what the outcome of their actions will be. The US style of controlling their neighbors and creating an entire sphere of influence was more subtle, as it is well documented and publicly admitted, CIA had many missions during the 20th century to install puppet governments throughout South America. China’s way of creating their own sphere of influence appears to be more visible, not subtle at all, very direct on to the point, weather you prefer the more subtle way of doing it or the more direct way makes very little difference in my opinion. I guess China is not very concern about their international reputation as much as the US was concern. The main thing to remember is that, there will be no war, China wants to create their own sphere of influence, their own Monroe doctrine, they are about to become a giant superpower, they want to project a superpower status and act like one, i don’t see anything unusual about that, Britain did it in the 19th century, America did it in the 20th century, now China is about to do it, 21th century will be China’s century, as many experts have said.

Viva75

I understand what you are saying, but to me it is all completely irrelevant as to who did what and in what century or decade, be it Britain, Japan, Russia or the US. I am talking about the here and now, 2016, there is NO justifying what is happening. I do not care for the Monroe doctrine or the CIA or any of those irrelevant excuses. What China is doing is wrong and the timings and the way in which they are doing it very calculated, but ultimately in the end for them, extremely counter productive.

They are deliberately taking advantage of a weak US president and trying to hurriedly alter the ‘situation on the ground’ so to speak, before The Hague ruling later in the year, which will no doubt rule against them. They will declare an ADIZ over the entire South China Sea before that ruling too. And the really scary thing is, the weaker their economy becomes, the more unpredictable the regime’s actions will become. Watch this space.

tisho

It’s not irrelevant because it gives you an idea of what they are trying to do. It’s what every rising superpower does, they want to establish their own sphere of influence, and building those islands is one way of doing it. In my opinion they should’ve waited a big longer until their economy becomes even larger, but i guess they know what they’re doing. I don’t know what they will do next, but i know its going to be in the same direction of projecting their power and creating their sphere of influence, i know there’s not going to be war for sure, nobody wants that, neither the US nor China, it has no benefit for anyone. If you think what China is doing is provocative, you should see the Japan’s ADIZ, stretching literally up to China’s shores and passing right through in the middle of a Korean island, you think Japan asked Korea and China for their permission? Of course not, they just took advantage of their weakness at that moment. It’s how the world works, you should know that by now, the people with money and power get what they want, the people without money and power get nothing. It’s been that way since the dawn of time.

Viva75

We know exactly what they are trying to do, there has been little doubt about that for a while now. Don’t be so sure of a continued Chinese ascendancy, this is far from guaranteed, some are of the belief they may have peaked 2 years or so ago. Your other point about getting what you want, do not underestimate US economic or military power either, for many reasons they will continue to be unchallenged for some time to come.

Your comment about China perhaps doing all of this too early, I agree completely, they may have found themselves in a classic case of over-reach, and due to Xi’s inability to backtrack or compromise, have essentially painted themselves into a corner politically and strategically. With the Hague ruling, mounting international pressure, regional alliances being solidified, a tanking Chinese economy, with any luck, pressure will continue to increase on those CCP thugs. Tick tock, tick tock.

Viva75

‘Invading’…technically no I guess, but they certainly are constructing artificial islands/military installations in international waters in order to simply steal and control massive amounts of territory that is definitely not theirs. So invading is actually not too far off the reality.

When trying to understand China’s ambitions and or intentions do not listen to what they say, but rather look at what they do. Ignoring the obvious signs they have clearly been giving over the past 3 years I particular is irresponsible and very dangerous.

joshuaism

Which countries?

CaptainAsia

This is all China’s fault. They lied about the peaceful rise and started an arms race instead. Now the whole region and the USA have been pulled in. If Chinos still keep pushing in this manner a war will break out and China will lose. There is no doubt about it as the commie PLA generals and their cadres are getting itchy fingers brought on by the belief that they are invincible.